Apparatus for treating sugar-cane and similar substances.



G. D. BURTON. APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUGAR CANE AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCESAPPLICATION FILED OCT. 17, 1906. RENEWED APR. 7 976,779.

Patented Nov. 22, 1910.

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' G. D. BURTON. APPARATUS FOR TREATI NG SUGAR CANE AND SIMILARSUBSTANCES. D 00117, 1906. RENEWED APR. 7. 1910,

APPLICATION FILE m E m m w n w m a; a w 21 III II mu 0 E Q w w 1 W H. mWW0 2 9 a resident of Boston, in the county of Suf UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

GEORGE I). BURTON, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

APPARATUS FOR TREATING SUGAR-CANE AND SIMILAR SUBSTANCES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October 17, 1906, Serial Ilia-339,336. Renewed April7, 1910. Serial No. 554,041.

To all whom itmoy concern: I

Be it known that I, Gnonon D. Bun'ron, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, and

folk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Apparatus for Treating Sugar- Cane and SimilarSubstances, of which the following-is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for treating various substances in asolution containing acids or chemical salts by thoroughly agitating thesubstances throu h the revolution both in one direction an then in theother of the receptacle in whichthe substances are contained andsubjecting said substances during this agitation to the action of acurrent of electricity.

One of the primary objects ofthe invention is to secure the gas or gasessuch for instance as hydrogen and oxygen gases or chlorin gas generatedby the action of electricit upon the solution and substances containewithin the revoluble tank and confine thesame in a suitable receptacleso that the same may be utilized for various commercial purposes.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts which 'will be readily understood by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims hereinafter given.

Of the drawings: Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an apparatusembodying the features of this invention. Fig. 2 represents a verticalsection of the same, the cutting plane being on line 22 on Fig. 3. Fig.3 represents a vertical longitudinal section, the cutting plane being online 33 on Fig. 2, and Fig. 4. represents a similar secti'on on Fig. 2with the inner receptacleremoved.

Similar characters designate like parts throughout the several figuresof the drawings.

The apparatus .consists of a stationary barrel-shaped tank 10 mountedupon castings or other suitable supports 11'12. The

tank 10. The trunnion 14 is mounted in a revoluble receptacle 15 isprovided with a tubular trunnion 17 secured to the outer face thereofand communicating with an opening 18 extending through the head 19 ofsaid revoluble receptacle l5 and an electrode 20 secured to the innerface of said head. The trunnion 17 is adapted to rotate in a hollowbearing 21 secured to the outer face of the head 22 of the tank 10.

The pipe 21 is provided with an outlet 22* in which is located a valve23, said outlet 22* having secured to its outer end a flexible bag orreceptacle 24. The bearing 21 is also provided with a pressure gage 25which operates in any well-known manner. The spur gear 13 is driven bymeans of suitable driving and reversing mechanism 26. This driving andreversing mechanism is of any well-known construction and is arranged tocause the revoluble receptacle 15 to turn in one direction from two toeight rotations, more or less, and then reverse automatically and turnfrom two to eight times, more or less, in the opposite direction.

The tank 10 is made in twosections, the heads 22 and'27 bein dividedhorizontally see 4) one-hal of the staves being astene to the lowersections of the heads and the other half to the upper sections of theheads so that the upper,half of the tank 10 may be removed to allow ofthe placing in its position of the revoluble rece Jtacle 15. Therevoluble receptacle or cylin er 15 is provided with an opening in theperipheral Wall thereof, this opening being provided with an annularflanged rim 28 set therein. Fittingthe depressed portion of" ,or shank33 having a handle 34 on the outer end thereof. When the clo'snre 29 isplaced within the inner wall of the rim 28 and resting upon the lowerinwardly projectin ber 33 will securely clamp the closure in positionand prevent leakage from the i11 ner receptacle. Diametrically oppositethe closure 2 9, the receptacle l5 is'provided with aplurality of valvedoutlets 35 through which the contents of the inner receptacle may bedrawn off.

The tank is provided with an inlet nozzle' 36 extending-vertically intothe bottom thereof and this inlet 36 communicates with a horizontal pipe37 through which suitable solution may be supplied to said tank -ordrawn therefrom as desired' A steam pipe 38 provided with a valve 39 communicates with the inlet 36 at 40, said steam inlet being in axialalinement with the'solution inlet 36. When the solution settles in thebottom of the tank and tends to clog the supply inlet by operating thevalve 39 a desired amount of steam may be discharged from said nozzle 40to remove the obstruction from the inlet 36. This discharge of steam maycontinue during the the outer face of said tank with the service.

wires to, 'w

The end castings 11-12 are connected to each other by bolts 43 connectedmidway be-' tween the heads of said receptacles by insulating members44: of any-ordinary construction, while said end castings or supports1112 are mounted upon insulating plates 45 to prevent the current frompassing to the floor of the building in which the, apparat-us is housed.sw1tch 46 of any ordinary construction is used for connecting theservice lines W, W with the apparatus.

The revoluble receptacle 15 has the inner face of each of its headsprovided with suitable clectrodes 20 and 47 secured thereto by means ofa plurality of bolts 48 passin through said head. The pipe 37 is providewith a suitable valve (not shown) and when it is desired to treat anysubstances in the apparatus a suitable solution is passed through saidpipe into said tank fillingthe same to a point 'just below the trunmons.This solution may be providedwith various chemical salts, acids, orother agents adapted to act upon the various substances being.

treated, the solution necessarily varying with the substances beingtreated and the object to be attained.

\Vhcn a suflicicnt quantity of solution has been supplied to the tankthe valve is shut oil. This solution may be heated by opening the \ul ve39 and supplying steam to the tank. The apparatus is then set in motionby means of a suitable'belt (not shown) communicating with the fast andloose pul-' and through the bolts 48 into one of the electrodes 47. tThe inner receptacle is provided with a suitable solution in which thearticles or substances to be treated are immersed and this solution isprovided with a suffieient quantity of chemical salts such as chlorid ofsodium or its equivalent for,the purpose of increasing the gravity ofthe solution; thereby alfording increased conductancel to the samesuflicient to cause an electric current to more advantageously act. Theelectric current passes from one electrode 47 through the substancesimmersed to the other electrode 47 and then through the bolts 48 andthesolution in the outer tank 10 to the other electrode 42 and from thisto the service wire '26. P

The resistance to the current of electricity in'the solution issutficient to cause the current to pass through the substances containedtherein and in so doing acts upon the substances contained within theinner receptacle in various manners, depending on the nature of thesolution and the articles or substances immersed therein.

The current of electricity which passes through the solution is of avolume and pressure varying in voltage and amperage from fifty to fivehundred volts, more or less, and from one and one-half to three hundredamperes, more or less, according to the size of the treating receptacleand the quantity of the substances or articles being treated.

In the operation upon various substances in an'inclosed tank such as isherein described the chemical and electrical action upon the substancesis such as to produce an amount of gas or gases which has to beicaredfor in some manner or else an explosion might occur. It is obvious thatthe gas thus produced may be utilized for various commercial purposes ifcollected and the receptacle 24 affords a ready means of collecting thegasproduced in'the receptacle 15.

It is believed that from the foregoing the operation of the inventionwill be thoroughly understood without any further description.

Claims.

'1. In an apparatus of the classdescribed, the combination of arevoluble receptacle provided with mixing devices, an electrode at eachend thereof, a tank in which. said receptacle is revolved, means forconnecting said electrodes in an electric circuit an all nular flangedrim set into an openin in said revoluble member, a closure there or, andmeans for clamping said closure to said-"rim,

2. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of arevoluble receptacleprovided with mixingdevices, an electrode at eachend thereof, a tank in which said re-' ccptacle is revolved, means for"connecting, said electrodes in an electric circuit, an sin-cnularflangedrim set into an opening'in said revoluble membe'm' andprovided ithin" wardly projecting ears, a closure therefor I therefrom,a tubular trunnion secured to saidrevoluble receptacle and revoluble wthin said bearing, a receptacle secured to the outlet of said bearing,and a valve in the outlet to said bearing.

- 8. In an apparatus of the class described,

.the combination of a revoluble receptacle provided with mixing devices,an electrode at each end thereof, means-for connectm said electrodesinan e1ectric-circuit,.a tan: 75 v1n which said receptacleisrevolved,ahollow bearing provided with an outlet on one' end ar saidtank, a tubular trunnion secured,

a rotatable member threaded'the ".tosaid revoluble receptacle and-revoluble-- to clamp said closure to said Within said bearing, areceptacle securedto 3'0- hed, the outlet of said bearing, and a valveinter? member adaptedto cd act with 3. In an apparatus of'the'cla'ss'descrl the combination of' a revoluble receptacle? provided withmixing devices, an electrodeagf A c 9. In an apparatus'of theclass-described, a the combination of a revoluble receptacle 35=-provided with mixing devices, an electrode.

at each end thereof, means for connectin at each end thereof, atankinwhichrs'aid receptacle is revolved,- an' annular electrode on theinner face of'either end ofsaidtanli and: surrounding the axis of saidrevoluble member, and means for connecting said electrodesin an electriccircuit. *1 v 4. In an apparatus of the-class described, the combinationof a revoluble receptacle rovided with mixing devices, an'electrode ateach end thereof, a tank in which said receptacle is-revolved, anelectrode on the inner face of each of the heads of. said tank, meansfor connecting said electrodesin an electric circuit, a closure forsaid'revoluble receptacle, and a plurality of valved outlets for saidreceptacle. p

In an apparatus of the class descrlbed, the combination of a revolublereceptacle provided with mixing devices, an electrode at each endthereof, a tank in which said receptacle is revolved, an electrode onthe inner face of each of the heads of said tank', means for connectingsaid electrodes in an electric circuit, a. closure for saidrevolublereceptacle, and a plurality of valved outlets for said receptaclediametrically opposite said closure.

(i. In an apparatus of the classdescribcd, the combination of arevoluble receptacle wovidcd with mixing devices, an electrode at eachend thereof, means forconnecting said electrodes in an electric circuit,a tank in which said receptacle is revolved, a hollow hearing on the endof said tank having a. closed end and provided with an outlet therefrom,a tubular trunnion secured to said revoluble receptacle and revolublewithin said hearing, and a valve in the outlet to said hearing.

7. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination of arevoluble receptacle provided with mixing devices, an electrode at eachend thereof, means for connecting said clcctrodcs in an elcctriccircuit, a tank irl which said receptacle is revolved, a hollow hear ngon the end of said tank having a closed end and provided with an outletcommunicating with said tank ada pte supply the same with a suitablesolution, and ipo communicating with 'said'tank 105 osed between saidreceptacle and said hol 1'- owbearingi said electrodes in an electriccircuit, a tan In which said receptacle 1s revolved a hollow bearinghaving a closed outer en on one bearing and a apted to'denote thepressure within said revoluble rece tacle. 10. In an apparatus of t eclassdescribed, the combination of a revoluble receptacle provided withmixing devices, an electrode Y at veach'end thereof, means forconnecting loo said electrodes in an electric circuit,,a tank in whichsaid receptacle 1s revolved, a 1pc another for supplying steam thereto.a": 3 r

11. In an apparatus of the class described? the combinatlon ofajrevoluble receptacle provided with mixing devices, an electrode" fateach end thereof, means for connectin said electrodes in an electriccircuit, a tan in Wll1Ch sald receptacle .isrevolved,

. a re communicating with said tank adapted" to" supply the same with asuitable solution and a steam pipe communicating withsai tank at theopening through which said solution is supplied thereto. -1 a 12. In anapparatus of the class desc 'ibed, the combination of a revolublereceptacle provided with mixing devices, .an' electrode at each endthereof, meansfor conneiitin 1 said electrode in an electric circuit, atan: in which said receptacle is revolved, a verticnl inlet pipecommunicating with said tank, a horizontal pipe for the admission of thesolution connected with said ve tical inlet pipe, and a steam nozzle insaid vertlcal inlet 'plpe and in axial allnement therewith.

13. In an apparatus of the class described,

the combination of a revoluble receptacle,

an electrode at each end thereof, means for connecting said electrodesin an electric e11- solution, and means for receiving and con-- finingthe escaping gases generated from the solution and substances beingtreated.

14:. In an apparatus of the class described, the combination ofa-receptacle, electrodes therein, means for connecting the electrodes inan electric circuit, a pipe adapted to supply said receptacle with asuitable solution,

- and a, flexible ba .detacha'bly secured to the 15 outlet from sai.receptacle for receiving this 15th day of October, 1906.

A GEO. D. BURTON.

Witnesses:

WALTER -E. LoM'BnRn, EDNA C. CLEVELAND.

